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석가탄신일, 삼광사 (Buddha’s Birthday, Samgwang Temple)

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 14:32 — gjw1980

The lights go on

 I had met Miju after school and we headed from Seomyeon to the  streets of Choeup-dong in a taxi. We arrived at the final junction and hopped out of the cab. At the base of a simple T-junction seven Korean police officers, two “best-driver” taxi drivers and three retired military men (but dressed ready, John Terry style) were over-effectively directing the two-way traffic (the side-road was closed) with their annoying whistles and fluorescent batons. At the top of the side-road lay Samgwangsa one of the most important Buddhist Temples and possibly one of the largest in the region.

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Mother’s Day

Sun, 05/12/2013 - 23:00 — thekimbapchronicles

My mother wasn’t famous.  She wasn’t college educated.  She hated politics, and, to my knowledge, never even registered to vote.  She never flew in a commercial airplane or traveled farther away from home that the states that border North Carolina.  She was a woman who didn’t form superficial friendships or socialize for socializing’s sake.  She preferred a cheeseburger at home (charcoal-esque in its doneness) to dinner in any kind of restaurant. In fact, people who didn’t know my Mama well might make the mistake of thinking she was thoroughly unremarkable. 

But there is nothing farther from the truth.  My mother was an extraordinary human being. 

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One Photo Every Day I’m in Korea

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 10:00 — JPD does ROK

While I love to write, and it’s what I did as a paid profession over much of a decade, sometimes a picture can tell a better, more complete story than any words–the return to Korea and one of the first sights at the airport, the sunrise, soft amidst a misty sky, a giant wooden penis and man dressed like a soju bottle.

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One More Post on Education

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 13:25 — thekimbapchronicles

So,  I’ve been rolling this last one around in my head for a long time, and I’m still not sure I can say exactly what I need to in a concise manner, but I’m sure as heck gonna try.

There have been  a lot of ideas proposed about how to fix education, and most of the creators of these ideas don’t bother to get real, meaningful feedback from teachers.  (NB:  When politicians say they’ve asked us about these things, they usually mean that they told us about what they had already decided or that they solicited feedback from retired teachers or folks who haven’t been in the classroom since spiral perms were cute.)

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Danimgil Makgeolli Pub (다님길 막걸리)

Tue, 05/07/2013 - 22:56 — mmpkorea
Name: Danimgil Makgeolli Pub (다님길 막걸리) Location: Hongdae Reviewed by: Mama Julia & Mama Wangmin on 20th April, 2013 Thoughts: Danimgil is a casual and relaxed makgeolli bar with an [...]
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Jangyusa Temple – 장유사 (Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do)

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 13:35 — dostoevsky2181

CSC_2474The view of the main hall and Samseong-gak hall at Jangyusa Temple in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Hello Again Everyone!!

Jangyusa Temple is named after the famous monk Jangyu. Jangyu just so happened to be the brother of Queen Heo, who just so happened to be the wife of King Suro. Jangyu is largely credited with spreading Buddhism throughout the Gaya Kingdom (42 A.D. – 562 A.D.).

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Post Contest

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 10:24 — kabochas

Hello everyone!

bikinilineup

Ms Bikini lineup

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Gangneung in Gangwon-Do

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 09:54 — BusanAwesome

 

By: Emma O’Flynn

cherry blossems gyeongpo lakeThis is one of the largest cities in the province, and as such has most of the trappings that one would expect.  There is a relatively large and thriving ex-pat community there as well, so you will always see a few folks that you can stop and ask for directions!

  For accommodation, best to grab a taxi from the bus station to the Tekji area, where there are a wealth of love motels.  You should expect to pay in the region of $40-60, but in return you can expect to get spacious and clean digs.

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Haesindang ‘Fertility park’ aka ‘Penis Park’

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 09:53 — BusanAwesome

 

By Emma O’Flynn

penis park 1The conundrum of Korea continues.  On one hand you have the super-conservative society, where showing a bit of cleavage sends the locals into moral spasms. Then on the other extreme, you can find a park dedicated entirely to penises!!! Yes, nestled away in a quiet fishing village is the Haesindang ‘Fertility park’, better known as the Penis Park!

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Sokcho & Soraksan

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 09:51 — BusanAwesome

 

By Emma O’Flynn

temple in seraksan

An hour or so further north from Gangneung is the town of Sokcho, on the edge of Soraksan National Park.  Considered one of the premier parks in all of Korea, Soraksan provides both opportunities for short hikes (2-4 hours), and more significant hikes, like the peak walk which can take up to 12 hours, depending on your approach.

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Samcheok & Donghae

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 09:48 — BusanAwesome

 

By Emma O’Flynn

In Samcheok there is a small Tourist Information booth next to the bus terminal, which provides information on the local bus schedule for Haesindang, and where to catch it close by.  Additionally in this area the largest limestone caves in Korea, Hwanseon Donggul caves,are within a short distance, and served by regular bus services.  There are sufficient love motels to lay you head, if you choose to stay there, but Samcheok is not the most ‘happening’ place.

schedule1

Blog about Hwanseon Donggul

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The Law of ‘Different Returns’

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 12:48 — JPD does ROK

ImageImage

Last night, I took the small No. 15 bus from the main road near my school to the stop closest my apartment, near the Abientot bakery, by the 24-hour restaurant I’ve bought the cheapest kimbap from (but, to be honest, the place near my school selling them for 800 won more is better. More guts, less rice). 

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Being Real

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 14:31 — thekimbapchronicles

So, I’ve been in a bit of blog-slump lately and haven’t kept up very well on my writing.  I’m still mulling around in my head exactly how I want to finish out my series of posts on education without turning it into something unwieldy and even more uninteresting than it already may be. 

So, in lieu of a more substantive epistle, I offer you this–a quote from Margery Williams’ The Velveteen Rabbit that has hung in every classroom I’ve ever had.  It pretty much sums up my beliefs about a life dedicated to real teaching.  When I started out, my only goal was to become a REAL teacher, and over my career as a teacher and a student, I have been blessed by the guidance of a host of REAL teachers who shaped my life in wonderful ways. 

 

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I Will Walk 500km

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 12:37 — JPD does ROK

And, I will walk 500 more, as long as this $17 pair of slip-ons I bought at Target before I came here hold out.

Thanks to my friends Sam, Jenna and Hye ri for coming out with me to Geumyeonsan on Sunday as a kind of observed birthday event. It’s always good to be able to stretch ones birthday out for nearly an entire week. 

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I’m Published!

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 12:31 — thekimbapchronicles

Check it out!  http://cityawesome.com/busan1/2013/04/a-day-in-dongnae/

I’ve been writing a little for Busan Awesome, an online magazine that focuses on the city where we live.  This is my article online!

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